Clematis plant named ‘Stolwijk Gold’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Clematis  plant named ‘Stolwijk Gold’, characterized by its upright and vining plant habit; uniquely yellow green-colored foliage; freely flowering habit; and violet blue-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Clematis alpina.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Stolwijk Gold’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofClematis, botanically known as Clematis alpina and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Stolwijk Gold’.

The new Clematis is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of anunnamed selection of Clematis alpina, not patented. The new Clematis wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant in apopulation of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environmentin Boskoop, The Netherlands in May, 2001. The new Clematis was selectedbased on its unique yellowgreen-colored leaves.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings in Boskoop, TheNetherlands, since May, 2001, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Clematis are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Stolwijk Gold have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Stolwijk Gold’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Stolwijk Gold’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and vining plant habit.    -   2. Uniquely yellow green-colored foliage.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Violet blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Clematis differ primarily from plants of the parentselection in leaf color as plants of the parent selection have solidgreen-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Clematis can be compared to plants of the Clematiscultivar Multi Blue, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedby the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands, plants of the new Clematisdiffered primarily from plants of the cultivar Multi Blue in leaf coloras plants of the cultivar Multi Blue had solid green-colored leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Clematis.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Stolwijk Gold’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Stolwijk Gold’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical leaf of ‘Stolwijk Gold’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photograph and following description were grown underconditions which closely approximate commercial production conditionsduring the summer in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands forabout two years. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 7° C. to14° C.

-   Botanical classification: Clematis alpina cultivar Stolwijk Gold.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed    selection of Clematis alpina, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 40 days            at 12° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; yellow brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Perennial. Upright and vining plant habit. Moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 126.5 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 36.5 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 18.6 cm. Diameter:            About 2 cm. Internode length: About 7.9 cm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color, young: 183A.            Color, mature: 199B to 199C, becoming closer to 200A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, compound with three leaflets.        -   Length, leaf.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Length, terminal leaflet.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Length, lateral leaflets.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Width, leaf.—About 6.7 cm.        -   Width, terminal leaflet.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Width, lateral leaflets.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Shape, leaf.—Three-parted; broadly ovate in outline.        -   Shape, leaflets.—Trifoliate; ovate in outline.        -   Apex, leaflets.—Narrowly acute.        -   Base, leaflets.—Cordate.        -   Margin, leaflets.—Serrate.        -   Texture, leaflets, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous.        -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.        -   Color, leaflets.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 151B to            151C, becoming closer to 154A; towards the margins, close to            187A. Developing foliage, lower surface: N144A to N144B.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 6B to 6C flushed with            144B; 6B to 6C flushed with 144A. Fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: 4C flushed with 144B to 144C; venation, 144A.        -   Petiole length.—About 5.7 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 1 mm.        -   Petiole color, upper surface.—187A.        -   Petiole color, lower surface.—146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single rotate terminal            flowers; flowers drooping. Freely flowering, about 45            flowers develop per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from spring            to early autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Color: 93C.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 5.6 cm. Depth (height): About 2.4            cm.        -   Petals.—None observed.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Four to eight in a single whorl.            Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate            to narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: 93C. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: 93C, becoming closer to 94B.        -   Sepaloids.—Arrangement: About 10 to 14 in several whorls.            Length: About 1.7 cm to 2.6 cm. Width: About 4 mm to 5 mm.            Shape: Narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 94B; more            inwardly sepals, 92B, towards the apex, 3C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 45.            Filament length: About 1.2 cm. Filament color: 145C. Anther            shape: Linear. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: 4D.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 4D. Pistils: Quantity            per flower: About 45. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma            shape: Conical, narrow. Stigma color: 155C. Style length:            About 6 mm. Style color: 145D. Ovary color: 157A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Clematis have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Clematis.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Clematis have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to be suitable for    USDA Zone 5 and tolerate high temperatures to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Clematis plant named ‘Stolwijk Gold’ asillustrated and described.